02/24/09

Smoking certainly not permitted

by BrianMorris

A wine for every taste - and even wines for those without taste.

Vast wine selection, largest by-the-glass list in the city. It's great that their wine store is right next door, super easy to pick up a bottle of whatever it is you just enjoyed.

• Pros: Knowledgeable servers & bartenders

12/05/08

good wine

by kellyyyyyyy

love it, great for large groups or small, nice views, good food. love the chocolate fondue. extensive wine list and knowledgeable staff.

• Pros: wine
• Cons: none

11/21/08

Best Lounge in Chicago

by zachjohnson2

This may be one of the best experiences I've had in a very very long time.

I had been here a few years back, and I remembered very little about it, but I will remember The Tasting Room now!!!

First of all the room is beautiful...dark & warm with a warm candlelit glow. A Beautiful view of the chicago sky line...and our server wasn't too hard on the eyes either....wink.

I'm a bit of a wine nerd I know, but I was blown away by the wine list they seemed to have hundreds of wines (had to be over 500) and offered them all by the glass or if you'd like they offer everything by the 'taste'. The main thing that impressed me though with the wine list wasn't the amount of wines, or even the myriad of eclectic bottles, (we've all seen that)...it was the prices...Webster's, Bin 36, Avec....There is no one in the city with wine prices like these...it seemed every glass of wine I had was 3 or four buck cheaper than the other guy. I know three or four buck isn't much, but trust me, it adds up!

anyway I'm done rambling, let's just say i loved it and leave it at that....

• Pros: Parking, Price
• Cons: NONE! WOW!

07/15/08

Really poor service

by texasroadwarrior

Went there with several friends recently and sat upstairs. Our server brought the wrong bottle of wine the first time and when I pointed it out to him he tells me it's on the house. Comes back later and say he has to confiscate it, per management instructions, then I'm told the original bottle is not available (they do have a wine store next door, right?). Long story short; many of the bottle selections were out, two bottles were corked, food orders were forgotten and overall service was slow. I wrote an email to the manager but she never responded. Going to Websters next time . . .

09/12/07

Great Variety, Good Atmosphere, Free Parking, and Excellent Food

by rebeccas05

The Tasting Room offers free parking to all guests (not a lot of that in Chicago). The variety of appitizers as well as wine are excellent. The staff is very knowledgeable at pairing the food to the wine choices. If you are a novice wine drinker, explain what you are eating, what you like and don't like and the servers will come up with a great choice for you. Sitting in a relaxed atmosphere (on couches and chairs with coffee tables) and looking out the windows at great views makes the enviroment just as good as the food. Take a chance and visit, you will not regret it. I can not wait to go back.

• Pros: Ambience, Free Parking, Variety of food/wine.
• Cons: Wish there was a second location in the suburbs.

05/23/07

If you want snooty this is it

by aylwin

The Tasting Room has it all, great location, great views of the city, free parking, excellent selection of wines and yet they contrive to ruin it by their attitude. I'm sorry, but customers are just way too tiresome for these wine experts. All dressed in black, they have attitudes to match. Ask to see the wine menu and you get the food menu tossed at you. Don't bother trying to engage the fellow at the bar in any kind of conversation about the business of his profession. And there is just something terribly annoying about the way he makes the pour with vastly exaggerated precision. Value for money is no compensation either because it is quite expensive when you get to add all the tastes and stuff, without ever experiencing a drop over. It's really a great shame.

• Pros: Great view of city and free parking
• Cons: Cold and disinterested staff, poor value

11/20/05

User review by schmu

by schmu

Excellent atmosphere & comfy seating! The wines were good, but I was expecting a larger selection. Service was prompt, but our server didn't seem to know that much about the wines & couldn't recommend anything specific when asked.

Overall, a great place to have some good wine & chat with friends.

• Pros: parking

10/12/05

Upscale but not uptight, this two-story wine bar in River West features impressive selections, service and skyline views.

by Contributor

The Scene
Gleaming hardwood floors, exposed brick and subtly elegant seating meet under soft, subdued lighting on both floors. Smooth grooves and soft back-beat stylings add to the warmth. The clientele resembles a refined neighborhood crowd, including couples fresh from dinner at nearby restaurants. The staff is polite and wise to the ways of wine, which is good, because you'll probably need some help charting the extensive menu.

The Draw
Choose your wine by the glass or the tasting, or order a flight. All wines are stored away from damaging UV rays and held in a temperature-controlled cellar for the premium flavor experience. Sample an extensive assortment of cheeses, artisanal breads, charcuterie and desserts. Order them a la carte or by the flight, served with homemade fruit compote, fresh apple and pear, and toasted nuts.

02/25/04

sit back and relax

by jenno

fantastic and friendly service. LOVE the couches and overall atmosphere. surprisingly great view too. food is a bit pricey but very good and well presented.

01/14/04

Upscale But Casual

by bosied

maybe its because i've only been here in the early evenings, when it wasn't that crowded, but i've found the tasting room to have a great atmosphere, a very helpful staff and overall to be a good experience. you can't beat the views of Downtown and the setting, of a loft type building with comfy seating, really makes for a great romantic spot or just a great spot to hit for a little wine and cheese before you head over to the United Center.

• Pros: the view, good parking, ambiance
• Cons: , a little pricey